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How to Watch Nebraska Softball vs Southern Miss, Bethune-Cookman: Preview, Breakdown, Streaming

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How to Watch Nebraska Softball vs Southern Miss, Bethune-Cookman: Preview, Breakdown, Streaming


Nebraska softball started the 2025 season with a bang beating No. 6 Tennessee 7-1 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., Thursday night.

Junior Jordy Bahl not only returned from a season-ending ACL injury in 2024, but pitched a gem and hit her first-career collegiate home run.

Bahl scattered five hits in the circle while striking out seven across seven innings. At the plate, she was 1-for-3 with the homer and two runs batted in.

Sophomore third baseman Samantha Bland went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, while Tennessee’s starter, Karlyn Pickens, struck out 11 but ran into trouble in the fifth and was replaced in the sixth.

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The Huskers play two on Friday against Southern Miss and Bethune-Cookman, here is everything you need to know before the first pitch.

How to Follow Along 

Southern Miss Scout

The Golden Eagles’ roster is an even mix of experience and fresh talent, with 15 returners and 15 newcomers, including nine first-year players — the most for the program since 2014.

Southern Miss finished last season 22-29 (10-14 Sun Belt) and secured a spot in the conference tournament for the second straight year, marking the program’s first back-to-back appearances since 2012-2013.

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Head Coach: Natalie Poole

Poole enters her third season as head coach of Southern Miss Softball, leading the Golden Eagles to consecutive conference tournament appearances for the first time since 2012-2013.

In 2024, she guided the team to its first home conference series win in the Sun Belt, its first conference series sweep, and a victory over No. 24 Texas State — the program’s first win against a ranked opponent since 2022.

Before joining Southern Miss, Poole spent 11 seasons as Memphis’ head coach, becoming the second head coach in that program’s history.

Prior to her tenure at Memphis, Poole spent time coaching at her alma mater McNeese State and Georgia Southern.

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2024 Record: 22-29, 10-14 Sun Belt

All-Time Series: Nebraska won the only meeting between the two in 2003 by a score of 5-0.

Key Returners: Jana Lee, P/INF, Sr. | Natalie Taylor, OF, Sr. | Shelby Allen, OF, Jr. | Mikaila Fox, OF, Gr. | Kinsley Gordon, INF, Jr. | Maddie Weeks, INF, Sr.

Key Additions: Faith Kivett, INF/UT, Sr. | Sam Bodell, C, Sr. | Claire Ginder, INF, Gr. | Abigail Morgan, P, So. | Natalie Herrington, P, Jr. | Jolie Hays, P, Fr.

Key Departures: Hannah Borden, C

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Two Golden Eagles received all-conference recognition last season, with returner Jana Lee earning Second Team All-Sun Belt honors and former graduate catcher Hannah Borden securing First Team All-Sun Belt and Third Team NFCA South Region accolades. Together, they totaled 100 hits, racking up 24 doubles, 23 home runs, and 77 RBIs.

Lee aims to build on a strong 2024 season, where she tallied a career-high 39 hits — third most on the team — while batting .320 with a .566 slugging percentage over 40 games. Her 15 home runs ranked fourth in the Sun Belt, and she also made an impact in the circle, appearing in 26 games and leading the pitching staff with nine wins and 40 strikeouts across 95 innings, including six conference victories.

Bethune-Cookman Scout

Bethune-Cookman finished the 2024 season with a 20-32 overall record but found success in SWAC play, posting a 16-8 conference mark. The Wildcats’ season came to an end in the SWAC Tournament with a 4-1 loss to Alabama State.

Head Coach: Laura Watten

Laura Watten, the winningest coach in Bethune-Cookman Athletics history, enters her 17th season at the helm of the Wildcats’ softball program. A three-time Coach of the Year across multiple conferences, she has guided numerous players to Player of the Year honors throughout her career.

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In 2022, Watten led Bethune-Cookman to its first-ever SWAC Eastern Division title during the program’s debut season in the conference, following more than 30 years in the MEAC.

Heading into the 2024 season, she holds a 32-16 record in SWAC play and an all-time head coaching record of 785-706, including a 494-443 mark with the Wildcats. She is just six wins away from reaching 500 victories with Bethune-Cookman.

2024 Record: 20-32, 16-8 SWAC

All-Time Series: Nebraska leads the series 1-0.

Key Returners: Haylne Gonzalez, P/INF, Sr. | Jessica Alaan, INF/UT, So. | Thais Uyema, C/INF, Gr. | Briana Velazquez INF/ UT, R-Sr.

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Key Additions: Emma Bradley-Tse, OF, Jr. | Molly Blackwood, INF, Fr.

Key Departures: Ciera Clark, 1B

Senior pitcher Halyne Gonzalez earned a spot on the SWAC Preseason First Team, while Jessica Alaan, Thais Uyema, and Briana Velazquez were named to the Preseason All-SWAC Second Team. Bethune-Cookman adds five newcomers to the 2025 roster, including four freshmen and one junior transfer.

The Wildcats return eight starters from last season’s lineup, along with seven additional letter-winners from a squad that finished third in the SWAC East. Velazquez, last year’s starting shortstop, posted a .325 batting average and hit one of the team’s three home runs. Kendall Macauley accounted for another, while Alaan led the team with 27 RBIs, finishing with 43 hits and a .287 batting average.

MORE: Nebrasketball Brunch Show: Can the Huskers Make it Four Straight Wins?

MORE: What If: The 1975 College Football Season

MORE: Why Did Nebraska Football Cancel The Spring Game?

MORE: Signee Analysis: Running Back Jamarion Parker

MORE: Signee Analysis: Running Back Conor Booth

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

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Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection

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Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection


LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.

On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.

Arwinderjit Singh mugshot(Dawson County Jail)

During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.

After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.

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Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.(Nebraska State Patrol)

Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.

Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.

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Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

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Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas


OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.

According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.

“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”

The senior ended his career as the 39th four-time state champion in Nebraska history, winning three at Wilber-Clatonia before joining the Jr. Jays.

Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.

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“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.

“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.

Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.

“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.

Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.

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“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”

The sophomore won his first state title after finishing as a runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman.

Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.

“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”

The junior finished the season as a back-to-back state champion after winning a gold medal at 175 pounds as a sophomore.

Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.

“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.

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Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.

“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.

“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.

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Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

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Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition


LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.

Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.

ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year

“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”

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Matt Williams(NE Chamber)

Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.

The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.

His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”

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